"Israel Crisis Amplifies Urgency in US Republican House Speaker Vacancy"

The declaration of war by Israel has added urgency to the selection of a new speaker for the US House of Representatives, as Republicans face pressure to address federal spending and provide more military aid to Israel. Some Republican lawmakers, including top candidate Jim Jordan, want to reach an agreement on federal spending for the current year before choosing a new speaker. The House Republicans are expected to hear from speaker candidates on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday. The lack of a speaker hampers the approval of new aid, and hardliners pushing for spending cuts have divided the party. The election's impact on Israel's security needs is downplayed, as President Biden assures additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces.